Tips for spring & early summer from Gary Long, Head Gardener at Trewithen

Head gardener at Trewithen Gardens, Gary Long, provides you with his top tips for trees and shrubs in spring and early summer:

Mulch using organic matter to help prevent weeds and retain moisture.

Feed trees, shrubs and roses with a balanced fertilizer such as Growmore or blood fish and bone. With Rhododendron pay attention NOT to mulch right up the stem/trunk. This could kill the plant, leave at least a 10 cm (4") gap.

Check tree ties regularly to make sure they are not too tight and digging in or worked loose over the winter.

Keep weeds under control, little and often is the key.

Tie in climbing and rambling roses, making sure the stem is bent around the support to increase the chance of new shoots producing flowers lower down the stem.

Lawn care:

Mow regularly lowering the height of cut gradually to the summer height.

If composting clippings, spread in thin layers to speed up the composting process.

Use "feed and weed" products to eliminate weeds and encourage lush new green growth.

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The Gardens of Windsor Great Park: Savill and Valley

Join us for our first lecture of 2019 as John Anderson takes us on a journey around The Gardens of Windsor Park: Savil and Valley.

7.30pm The Alverton, Tregolls Road, Truro

January09

John Anderson – Travels in North East India: A Hidden Paradise for Plants and People

As Keeper of the Gardens at Windsor Great Park, John Anderson is responsible for Savill, Valley Gardens and Her Majesty’s Private Garden at Frogmore.

Having trained at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, John has utilised his skills as Head Gardener at Mount Usher Gardens in Ireland, at the National Trust for Scotland’s Inverewe Gardens and at Exbury Gardens in Hampshire.

John enjoys travelling to India, Chile, Australia and South Africa to study plants in their natural habitats. He is also Vice Chair of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Woody Plant Committee and a winner of the A J Waley Medal for Rhododendrons.